1-Preheat the oven and prepare your pan: Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C) and lining a 9×13 inch baking pan with foil that’s lightly sprayed for easy release. This setup ensures your bars come out clean and intact every time.

2-Mix the dry ingredients: In one bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, and salt to get your dry mix ready.

3-Cream the sugars and butter: In another bowl, blend the brown sugar, white sugar, and melted butter until smooth, then add the eggs one at a time, followed by the vanilla extract for a flavorful base.

4-Combine wet and dry mixtures: Gradually mix in the dry ingredients until everything is fully combined.

5-Fold in chocolate chips and optional toffee bits: Then stir in the chocolate chips to spread that gooey goodness throughout.

6-Spread dough in the pan and bake: Press the dough evenly into your prepared pan and pop it into the oven. Bake for about 25 minutes, watching until the edges turn golden brown and the center sets but stays soft.

7-Cool and cut for the best texture: Once done, let the bars cool completely before slicing them into squares, which helps achieve that chewy center we all love.